"Nobody may operate domiciliation activities without the prior approval of the administrative authorities, prior to entry on the trade and companies register" (art. L. 123-11-3 of the Commercial Code).

"Approval […] is issued by the prefect of the department where the domiciliation company has its registered office or, if the registered office is in Paris, by the Police prefect" (art. R. 123-166-1 of same Code).

In notice n° 2013-024, the Coordination Committee of the Trade and Companies Register (CCRCS) indicated that a company having its registered office in jointly shared premises, should justify the real nature of the address declared by presenting a copy of the domiciliation agreement (as defined byarticles R. 123-167 et seq of the Commercial Code) indicating the references for the prefectoral agreement (for which provision is made by article L. 123-11-3 of the commercial code).

In practice, this prefectoral approval shall take the form of an administrative deed (decree) to which a number is attributed. It is this number which should be indicatedin the domiciliation agreement filed with the registry office for entry on the RCS.